School Recycling Education and the meaning of the number in the triangle

Wyn Hyzer, Environmental Educator for Will County, has contributed this week’s blog entry.  She is a familiar face to students in many schools throughout the area as she strives to heighten the level of environmental awareness among our younger citizens.

Part of the work of the Will County Resource Recovery and Energy Department is to provide education to students all over the county.  Not only do we try to promote a greener lifestyle, but we also give practical advice on the basics of recycling.  Although it can be surprising just how much young students do know about recycling, there are times when we need to dispel some urban myths.  Just last year a student made the statement, “My cousin told me that the number in the middle of the triangle means how many times the bottle has been recycled.”

Wait!  Hold on.

Most every plastic container you purchase at the store will have a chasing arrow triangle somewhere on the underside.  Right in the middle of that triangle will be a number, ranging from 1 to 7.  This number is merely a resin identification code.  In other words, it tells what kind of plastic it was made from.  All plastics are not created equal—you can tell this just by feel.  The triangle does not even mean that the item can be recycled, and it will not identify whether the product was made from recycled material in the first place.

So what does this triangle and its number mean for you?  It gives you basic information to compare with the rules of your municipality.  The majority of towns collect containers made from #1 plastic (polyethylene terephthalate, or PET) and #2 plastic (high-density polyethylene or HDPE.)  Collection of #3-#7 depends greatly on where you live.  Luckily, many municipalities are collecting more items than ever. Check the willcountygreen.com green guide to see what you and your neighbors can recycle.

But please do not assume that the plastic in your ketchup bottle has been recycled one time before as you examine the #1 triangle on the bottom.  Just know that when you do recycle this bottle, it has an excellent chance of becoming someone’s fleece blanket next winter!